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Counseling Services
THE PROGRAM: Training Received and Provided
Intern Supervision
We believe the quality of supervision contributes strongly to a positive internship experience; therefore supervision is a primary aspect of our program. Intern supervision is designed so that each intern has exposure to most of the senior staff. Interns receive supervision from a number of different supervisors and have input into the selection of therapy supervisors. Supervision emphasizes both the development of skills, personal awareness, and the integration of various theoretical positions into one's own individual therapeutic style.
- Individual Supervision: Interns are assigned two supervisors who together oversee the intern's individual psychotherapy training. Interns receive a total of 2 hours individual psychotherapy supervision per week.
- Supervision of Group Therapy: Interns receive 1 hour weekly of supervision of their group therapy experiences from the senior staff members with whom they are co-leading their groups. Interns also participate in a group consultation meetings for 1.5 hours weekly with the group coordinator to view tapes of their group sessions and give and receive feedback.
- Case Conferences and Clinical Meetings: Interns participate in clinical meetings and case conferences, which include the staff and the consulting psychiatrist. Clinical meetings are used to discuss assessment issues arising from specific clinical assessment interviews and to assign clients. Case conferences provide the opportunity for interns and senior staff to present cases informally and to discuss treatment issues. There will be a few occasions during the year in which the intern will be asked to do a formal case presentation.
- Consultation and Outreach Supervision: Supervision of these activities is done individually and in group formats.
- 5. Supervision of Supervision (meta-supervision): Interns meet as a group with the Training Director for 1.5 hours weekly of supervision of their supervision of practicum students.
Didactic Training
Another component of our training program occurs in the intern seminar, which meets for two hours per week. They are presented by Counseling Services staff members, adjunct training faculty, and professionals from the University and greater community. The seminars focus on topics deemed pertinent to the development of a competent, well-grounded psychologist, and include such topics as: short-term therapy, empirically supported therapy, legal and ethical issues, risk management, psycho-diagnostic issues, group therapy, treatment of special populations such as those with eating disorders and adult survivors of sexual abuse, diversity issues in counseling, assessment, and consultation. Input from interns in selecting topics for these seminars is welcomed.
Knowledge of Personality Development, Functioning, and Relational Dynamics
We believe that a firm and thorough grounding in developmental theory, clinical understanding of psychopathology, and the interaction of individual functioning with one's culture are essential for an understanding of human behavior and psychotherapeutic intervention. Through clinical meetings, supervision, seminars, case conferences, and presentations, the intern is expected to demonstrate a growing ability to develop sound theoretical conceptualization and intervention strategies. Additionally, though our staff espouse a variety of clinical orientations and approaches, there is a shared understanding and appreciation for the impact of interpersonal/relational dynamics in the lives of our clients and within the therapy process. Regardless of therapeutic orientations, there is strong emphasis on using the therapeutic relationship as a primary therapeutic tool.
Awareness of Ethical and Professional Issues
Knowledge of ethical and professional behavior is essential to anyone who plans to continue in the field of psychology. Interns and staff need to remain up-to-date with changes occurring in the interpretation of such issues as managed care, confidentiality, legal rights, insurance, and dual/multiple role conflict. These topics and others are addressed throughout the year in supervision, training seminars, clinical meetings, staff meetings, and case conferences.
Supervisory Opportunities
Interns are afforded the opportunity to gain experience as supervisors. Interns supervise practicum students from the APA-accredited Counseling, School, and Educational Psychology Program at the university, as well as externs from other masters level counseling graduate programs in the area. Training and supervision of interns on their supervisory skills is done on a weekly basis, in a group format, seminars, and directed reading. In addition, interns can gain supervisory experience in planning outreach programs and conducting groups with practicum students.
Psychiatric Training Component
Counseling Services has board-certified consulting psychiatrists and psychiatric residents who are present for our Clinical Meetings and Case Conferences and available for individual consultations about specific clients. Interns also have the opportunity to attend Psychiatric Grand Rounds, sponsored by the University at Buffalo Medical School. Interns typically will have the opportunity to visit the Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (psychiatric emergency room) at Erie County Medical Center, where students who need psychiatric evaluation for possible hospital admission are referred. The psychiatric staff may also provide training through intern seminars.
August Orientation
The initial part of our internship program is the August orientation. Interns are oriented to the campus and to Center policies and procedures through a variety of presentations, workshops, and training modules designed to help prepare them for the various professional activities in which they will be involved during the succeeding year.
Some of the typical areas of focus for our August Orientation include:
- Overview of the training program
- Assessment of individual intern training needs and completion of the Intern Training Contract
- Assignment of supervisors
- Assignment of group therapy co-facilitators
- Orientation to Policies and Procedures of the Counseling Services
- Clinical Interview
- Short-Term Therapy
- Crisis Intervention
- Treatment Planning
- Outreach
- Consultation
- Group Therapy
- Clinical Supervision Training
- Lethality Assessment and Crisis Management Training
- Ethical and Legal Issues
- Emergency Psychiatric Unit at the County hospital
- Introductions to other relevant campus offices (Student Health, Wellness Education, Career Planning & Placement, etc.)
Intern Evaluation
Supervisors of each activity provide ongoing evaluation of interns. All senior staff members who work with interns meet regularly to discuss and monitor intern training experiences. Formal evaluation occurs at various points during the internship year (end of fall semester, end of spring/summer semesters). Feedback to interns is written and verbal, highlighting both strengths and areas needing improvement.
Evaluation of Training Program and Training Staff
The internship program is evaluated on a continuous basis by means of meetings between the Training Director and interns and regular meetings of the training staff. Interns and staff provide written mid-year and final evaluations of the internship. Mid-year and final evaluation meetings of the staff and interns focus on the effectiveness of the training program and on the development of more effective policies and procedures. Interns also provide ongoing informal and semester-end formal written and verbal evaluations of all of their supervisors and the Training Director.
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